Glasgow Primary Schools Southside

[TheFullMinty]

Hi all,

Posted this elsewhere on Mumsnet but been advised to pop it in this section too, sorry if you've come across it before.

We are moving to Glasgow very soon and will be in the southside area.

We've a 7 year old boy to find a school place for. I've been told that Pollocksheilds primary isn't all that great so was hoping to put in a placement request for either Glendale, Shawlands or Langside. However I haven't been able to find much info on these schools and as I can only look round once I have a place and can only apply for one at a time I was hoping someone might be able to give me some insights!

Anyone have any experiences of any of these? Any knowledge at all would be really appreciated so I can try to make some sort of decision as to which to go for.

Alternatively any other advice on the Scottish education or Glasgow in general with kids would be fab!

Thank you

[inmyshoos]

Sorry not great help but I have a feeling Langside would be the better of these schools. I think you should visit them all and have a look round. A few extra days off school won't hurt.

[Celticlassie]

Glendale is great, but I heard they don't take placing requests as they're always full up. Shawlands and Langside are good, as is Battlefield.

[prettybird]

Depending on when you are planning on moving, you might be lucky with Glendale as it will be moving into its new building in December/January and might have extra room then.

[prettybird]

Thought I should add that I've talked to a few parents of kids at Langside, Shawlands and Battlefield and they all seem happy with their respective schools (in my role at a local youth sports club where I get details which include which school they go to). They also all have the advantage of feeding into Shawlands Academy - although you can always do a placing request from Glendale. To date, they've all been accepted (this year I think it was about 10-15 )

[SparklingMoon]

I didn't like Langside. Moved to a East Renfrewshire school and find it so much better.

[MrsAmaretto]

Is it a Glasgow rule that you can't look around the schools? Surely you just phone and make an appointment?

[helensburgh]

My only advice is not to listen to others opinions. Visit them and go with your instinct .

[prettybird]

I didn't have a problem looking around Glendale. I was told nicely I should have made an appointment (I wasn't expecting a tour at the time) but they showed me around anyway.

Dh and I arranged to look around Shawlands Academy when ds was in P6. Had a very comprehensive tour with the depute head responsible for transition and S1s and afore months later arranged had another tour, this time with ds and a couple of his friends from his school who also wanted to go there via placing requests.

[prettybird]

I agree with Helensburgh - visit the school and get your own feel for the place.

[prettybird]

True - I was talking about before ds started primary school (at Glendale).

Just reading the OP again. I've never heard of schools only letting you look around once you've got a place. Were you actually told that? It's all a bit late now anyway, as applications (and placing requests) would need to be in by now.

The comment about East Ren is interesting. I think there is a lot of prejudice against Glasgow schools: not enough consideration taken of the wide demographic they are dealing with and too much reliance on league tables having said that Shawlands Academy made it into the Sunday Times Top 50 Scottish schools this year

I'm really happy with ds' academic progress - but also the fact that his sport is encouraged.

Over Christmas I was talking to a friend whose ds is at St Ninians. I have to say I am much happier with Shawlands and the way it teaches holistically than she is with St Ninians. And little things would bug me - like at St Ninians you don't get to see all the teachers at parents' evenings: one teacher takes the reports from all the other teachers and the parents just get to see that one teacher

[Rangirl]

Agree comparing Glasgow schools with East Ren is not like for like

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Why are they not like for like? What is it that makes East Ren schools different asides from a different catchment?

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Many Glasgow schools within different catchments as well though, what is it that East Ren schools do that makes them different from Glasgow?
Genuine question. Most areas of Glasgow have mixed demographics as does East Ren so I don't see how catchment makes such a big difference.

[prettybird]

Catchment does make a difference. There are mixed demographics and really mixed demographics. Most (but not all) schools in East Ren have a smaller proportion of really deprived pupils and not, for example, high numbers of Roma or people with English as an additional language.

I went to Bearsden Academy (Ok, not East Ren, but a similar demographic to Newton Mearns) and in no way did its cohort represent the same wide range that many of the schools in Glasgow have to cope with.

[SparklingMoon]

Sorry for posting the comment about East Ren. I agree with what others are saying, that they should not be compared like for like. My plan had been for ds to go to Langside Primary or Shawlands Primary and then Shawlands Academy. I looked around both primary schools and decided on Langside. After two year I realised it was not the right school for my ds. I agree that you should not listen to what others say and make up your own mind. Different school suit different people. Both me and ds needed a school that works with parents, includes parents and is more caring and flexible. Langside is bigger so harder for them to be flexible. The final thing that made me move ds was his safety. I didnt feel he was safe. At his new school I feel much more relaxed and I do feel that he is safe.

[SparklingMoon]

I also agree with prettybird Shawlands Academy is very nice and helpful if you contact them before you have a place. I spoke to them before my ds started Langside and they were really friendly and helpful. I was very very impressed.

[prettybird]

You have to do what's right for your child sparkling moon, I agree.

I know one family whose first and third child went to Langside but they pulled the middle one and sent him to Belmont. He needed a smaller environment.

And even though I wax lyrical about Glendale and it served ds brilliantly (and I had a good relationship with the SMT), I do know of another family who moved their younger daughter to Shawlands Primary.

[Paanya]

Hi Sparkling Moon.

My daughter is also attending Landside and I am also planning a move to East Ren.

Can you please share your experiences with schools in East Ren and which school is best in your view.
Thanks in advance.